Considering....advice?

[Seraph]

I'm just in the process of looking at options of transport, mainly a car or bike, and could do with a little advice on bikes from anyone willing to give some here's the story... I'm 17, living about 40km away from the closest place I could get a job and need a way of getting there and back, the majority of the journey would be along open highway *makikihi - timaru, if anyone knows where that is...* Obviously as a teenager I won't be getting a job with massive pay, or extremely long hours so won't have a great deal to spend on petrol...In your opinion would a 250 be a realistic option to be traveling 80km + a day on? and be cheap enough to run? including wof's, rego and standard maintenance? I'd first be looking at something like a gn250 for the first 6 months or so then upgrading to a bandit250 or similar after that. Thanks, any advice is greatly appreciated.

[Fishy]

Definitely the cheaper option mate. I commute 110km's per day and have done in both on a bike and in the car and the bike beats it hands down with running costs.

Just remember to get yourself some good waterproof gear.

[Str8 Jacket]

would you be new to riding or have you ridden a bike before? reason im asking is 40 km's is quite a big ride each way for a complete newbie on a bike with no experience...

Oh yeah, welcome!

[Wasp]

well my bandits cost me nothing so far and ive had it 6 weeks (been in for a few warrenty jobs though and apparently they have some nasty hidden secrets) but i love it to bits but it is harder to ride than my old bike (a honda vtz 250).

Im also 17 (nearly 18 YAY!), spent last year working 1 1/2 hours after school everyday and full time during the holidays. started full time straight after exams and still working here right as we speak.

the bike is a perfect mode of transport for me, if i had a car i would have to pay for parking but with the bike i can easily park in the garage at work.

Now while i dont travel anywhere near 40kms to get to work (more like 5 minutes) im guessing you'll be fine once you get used to riding, only problems i forsee is the 70km/h speed limit for learners (and if you break it or not) and the weather.

[Jantar]

Makikihi - Timaru is a good road, not too busy, yet still enough traffic that you need a bike capable of cruising at the legal speed limit. Your suggestion of starting on a GN then later progressing to a Bandit is a good choice for that particular piece of road. Once you have been riding for a couple of years you will probably want to move up to a 600.

A bike will work out a lot cheaper than a car for commuting that distance, but you will need good gear. Half an hour on a frosty morning will feel like 2 hours if you don't keep warm.

[Whynot]

if you are wanting honest opinions whether to get a car or a bike i doubt this is the best place to get them .....

but, yea if you do get a bike ... get good, warm, waterproof gear ... you won't regret it

[cowpoos]

would you be new to riding or have you ridden a bike before? reason im asking is 40 km's is quite a big ride each way for a complete newbie on a bike with no experience...

Oh yeah, welcome!

he'll soon get experience at that rate thou doll....


and yer welcome to the out box in the corner of the interweb....

[Jantar]

...40 km's is quite a big ride each way for a complete newbie on a bike with no experience...

40 kms in South Canterbury carries about the same risk and difficulty as 4 kms in Wellington.

[Str8 Jacket]

40 kms in South Canterbury carries about the same risk and difficulty as 4 kms in Wellington.

For sure, but I was meaning "should anything untoward happen" then its a long way out to be waiting for someone... Im all for him getting a bike, the only way to learn is from experience - believe me I for one know that all to well...

[sels1]

*makikihi - timaru, if anyone knows where that is...* :

yep, went thru there lastThursday

*I'd first be looking at something like a gn250 for the first 6 months or so then upgrading to a bandit250 or similar after that. :

Thats fairly sound thinking, go with that.
Welcome aboard, btw

[Seraph]

would you be new to riding or have you ridden a bike before? reason im asking is 40 km's is quite a big ride each way for a complete newbie on a bike with no experience...

Oh yeah, welcome!

I'd Be totally new to riding, but considering the ammount and place i'd be riding I'd definately be looking for the closest riding school I don't wish be be a danger, or hazzard to other road users or myself.

if you are wanting honest opinions whether to get a car or a bike i doubt this is the best place to get them .....

but, yea if you do get a bike ... get good, warm, waterproof gear ... you won't regret it

Although this most likely isn't the best place to get an honest opinion between bike or car, it's the best I know of for honest opinions on bike's and i doubt many people on here would give bad advice to a n00b


Thank you to eveyone else giving advice, I didn't expect anywhere near this ammount of responce so thank you again

[sefer]

*makikihi - timaru, if anyone knows where that is...*

Yeah, that's where they make fries right

Running costs = bike
Not freezing your arse off = car

Guess it depends on if you can face getting up in the morning in the icy/pouring rain and riding 40K

[Squeak the Rat]

It be a cold place in the south seas down thar me hearty, oooh arrrr.

Yar'd be wantin the good gear, that's for sure mateeey.

40km's in freeezin' wind and blusterin rain at 100km/hr be enuf to send the saltiest sea dog to a shiverin' wreck.

Go to yar local bike shop, thar be bountiful treasure thar....

Arrrrr.

[Str8 Jacket]

I'd Be totally new to riding, but considering the ammount and place i'd be riding I'd definately be looking for the closest riding school I don't wish be be a danger, or hazzard to other road users or myself.

Well in that case I definately reckon that you should go with a GN for your first bike. When I started riding 10 months ago I hadnt even driven a car on the road so it was a huge thing for me at the time... And even though I had ridden bikes when I was young (10-12) I had to teach myself to ride all over again. Even though I bag GN's now I have to admit that they are extremely easy to ride, they take alot of punishment and you can get them cheap. The only thing about GN's is that they tend to "eat" oil but you just need to watch it.
Definately get a bike, its the best thing I ever did!

[Colapop]

welcome to the nutt farm...

Would that distance be an issue on a bike? You should talk to Skelstar... He's selling his Hyosung 250. It's done 20,000k in less than a year with no ill effects. So the answer there is no, the distance won't be a problem. Fuel costs are going to be hugely less. Comfort, well, a car has a heater. But if you buy some decent gear then it won't be too bad even down there.